OKLAHOMA CITY — The Indiana Pacers are still a long way from where Jermaine O'Neal wants them to go. At least they are headed in the right direction.

O'Neal was a big part of it, making two key layups to help the Pacers to a 100-93 victory over the New Orleans Hornets last night in his first game since issuing a challenge to his Indiana teammates

O'Neal finished with 22 points, two nights after calling the Pacers "a very average team" and suggesting that he and the team should go "separate ways" at the end of the season "if I can't take this team to another level."

O'Neal said he didn't want the Pacers to "mingle around .500" and then make an early exit from the playoffs. This win snapped a two-game losing streak and kept the Pacers above .500 at 18-16.

"It's too early," O'Neal said. "We've had situations where we've looked extremely good and then we come back the next night and we look extremely bad. It's too early to say we're making huge steps. It was a baby step."

With the score tied at 83, O'Neal hit back-to-back layups from the left block to spark a 10-3 run that gave the Pacers control of the game in the final 4 minutes.

Hawks 86, Clippers 74:

ATLANTA — Joe Johnson scored 27 points, Zaza Pachulia added 22, and Atlanta ended an eight-game losing streak by beating Los Angeles.

The Hawks won for the first time since a Dec. 15 victory at Memphis. They won at home for the first time since beating Charlotte on Nov. 29.

CAVALIERS 96, NETS 91

CLEVELAND — LeBron James scored 19 points and added a season-high 13 rebounds, helping Cleveland cap its most successful week in nearly 14 years with a victory over New Jersey.

By beating San Antonio, Boston, Milwaukee and New Jersey since Tuesday, the Cavaliers have won four games in five nights for the first time since Feb. 2-6, 1993.

BULLS 106, PISTONS 89

CHICAGO — Luol Deng scored 30 and Ben Wallace finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds in his first game against his former team to lead Chicago past Detroit.

Deng scored 20 by halftime as the Bulls grabbed a 55-46 lead. Chicago outscored the Pistons 10-5 over the first 3:10 of the third quarter to make it 65-51.

JAZZ 96, NUGGETS 84

DENVER — Deron Williams tied a career high with 28 points and Carlos Boozer shrugged off a slow start to finish with 24, leading Utah over Denver.

Williams also had 12 assists and Boozer grabbed 12 rebounds. The Jazz are now 21-5 when Boozer records a double-double.

WARRIORS 108, SONICS 104

OAKLAND, Calif. — Baron Davis had 22 points and 11 assists, including a pass to Matt Barnes for a layup that put Golden State ahead 105-103 as it beat Seattle for its sixth straight home win.

Monta Ellis, who missed the previous five games with a bruised right shoulder, added 20 points for the Warriors.

BLAZERS 110, KINGS 105

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Zach Randolph had 30 points and 14 rebounds, and rookie Brandon Roy forced overtime with a 15-foot at the buzzer as Portland went on to defeat Sacramento.

Randolph's flip shot put the Blazers ahead for good at 104-102 with 44 seconds left in OT, and Roy made two free throws with 9.3 seconds left for 106-102 lead.